Memoir / Biography – Karen Abbott, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War Finalists:Kai Bird, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert AmesSarah Churchwell, Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great GatsbyLacy M. Johnson, The Other Side: A MemoirJ.W. Ocker, Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe

True Crime – Deborah Halber, The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America’s Coldest CasesFinalists: Kevin Cook, Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, The Crime that Changed AmericaJoshua Horwitz, War of the WhalesWilliam J. Mann, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of HollywoodMatt Richtel, A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention

Middle Grade – Jacqueline West, Still Life (The Books of Elsewhere, Book #5)Finalists: Dan Bar-El, Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss, Audrey (Cow)Charis Cotter, The Swallow: A Ghost StoryKate De Goldi, Illustrated by Gregory O’Brien, The ACB with Honora LeeTania Unsworth, The One Safe Place

Academic(tie, listed in alphabetical order) –Charles J. Rzepka,Being Cool: The Work of Elmore LeonardBruce Shaw, Jolly Good Detecting: Humor in English Crime Fiction of the Golden AgeFinalists:Pamela Bedore,Dime Novels and the Roots of American Detective FictionMartin Clancy & Tim O’Brien,Murder at the Supreme Court: Lethal Crimes and Landmark CasesMargaret Anne Hutton,French Crime Fiction 1945-2005: Investigating World War II Mary Papenfuss, Killer Dads: The Twisted Drives that Compel Fathers to Murder Their Own KidsPeter Schweizer,Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own PocketsTheodore Zilkowski,The Lure of the Arcane: The Literature of the Cult and Conspiracy

Mainstream Crime Reference – Brad Meltzer with Katie Ferrell, History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All TimeFinalists:John Douglas & Mark Olshaker, Law & Disorder: The Legendary FBI Profiler’s Relentless Pursuit of Justice Editor Sarah Janssen, The World Almanac Book of Facts 2014 Chuck Klosterman, I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined) Maria Konnikova, Master-Mind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes David McConnell, American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men

Memoir / Biography – Anne Serling, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod SerlingFinalists:Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell, Jr., Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Hugette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune Earle Labor, Jack London: An American Life Lance Parkin, Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of Alan Moore Domenica Ruta, With Or Without You Justin St.Germain, Son of a Gun

True Crime – Judith Yates, The Devil You KnowFinalists:Diana Fanning, Sleep My Darlings Jerid M. Fisher, Upside Down Charles Graeber, The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder M. William Phelps, Bad Girls Hannes Rastam, Thomas Quick: The Making of a Serial Killer Linda Rosencrance, House of Lies Robert K. Tanenbaun, Echoes of My Soul

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Publisher’s Weekly

Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)

2014-09-17T12:38:03+00:00

Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/publishers-weekly-2/

Jessie Bishop Powell

"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover. Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue

2014-09-17T12:39:40+00:00

"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover. Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/jessie-bishop-powell/

David Burnsworth

"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat

2014-09-17T12:40:56+00:00

"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/david-burnsworth/

Rosalyn Rikel

"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011. Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower. Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one! Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower

2014-09-17T12:44:54+00:00

"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011. Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower. Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one! Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/rosalyn-rikel/

Mark Troy

“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers. I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it." - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle

2014-09-17T12:46:40+00:00

“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers. I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it." - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/mark-troy/

Judy Dailey

“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience. Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.” - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder

2014-09-17T12:47:54+00:00

“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience. Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.” - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/judy-dailey/

Steven Cooper

"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder. I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains

2014-09-17T12:50:21+00:00

"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder. I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/steven-cooper/

Ross Cavins

"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse

2014-09-17T12:53:03+00:00

"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse